Paper-file



(No Model.)

G. S. HAWKINS 8v M. GILMORE. l

PAPER PILE.

No. 511,888.. Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

gdr/14%- miren STATES ENT GEORGE S. l-IAIVKINS AND MATl-IEW GILMORE, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK:

PAPER-.FILL

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,888, dated January 2, 1894.

Application tiled April 5, 1893. Serial No.469I089. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE S. HAwKiNs and MATHEW GILMORE, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Our invention relates to that class of devices known as paper files and intended for retaining bills, letters, and other papers in convenient collected position and permitting of their removal for filing away or for other purposes.

The object of our invention is to provide or produce a neat, simple, cheap, compact and convenient paper file upon which papers may be applied in the usual way, wherein the hooks are released and arranged to be opened and held open by a spring when desired, and wherein provision is made for automatically locking the hooks in closed position as soon as theyaremovedtothatposition. Toaccomplish all of this and to secure other and further advantages in the matters of construction, operation and use, our improvements involve certain new and useful arrangements or combinations of parts and particulars of invention as will be herein first fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l, is a perspective showing our improved paper1 file as it appears when the hooks are closed and locked, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the hooks in opened position to admit of application or removal of papers from the file. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of the base representing the shaft which carries the hooks as being locked, and Fig. Il is a similar view showing the shaft unlocked and turned by the spring so as to open the file as in Fig. 2.

In all the figures, like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

A is the foundation of any desired size or material upon which the paper or tile-holding device may be desired to be applied.

B is the base which sustains the operating parts, and this is preferred to be made of metal so that it will be compact and durable and may be east or otherwise formed.

C C are two uprights secured in baseB and upon which the papers to be filed are applied. These uprights are preferably made hollow and the foundation A is perforated to facilitate the insertion of a thread or cord to bind the papers after they are removed from the file, but this is not essential as the uprights might be made solid if desired.

D D are the hooks which reach over and register with the upper ends of the uprights, serving to close the file and permit the shifting of papers from the uprights to the hooks for convenience in examination or separation of any of the papers as is well understood. The hooks D are secured in or on a shaft E which projects through base B and is arranged to revolve therein as well as to move longitudinally in its bearings.

F is a spiral spring connected at one end to shaft E, the other end of the spring bearing against the side of base B to crowd the shaft longitudinally and against the foundation A or some other convenient part to compel the shaft to turn when the spring is free to act.

Upon the shaft E is a lug ov and upon the base is a collar or other projection .b notched to receive the lug a and provided with a stop `clfor the lug, to prevent the hooks fromopening too far. lThe base being mounted upon the foundation-as by use of screws as cand the hooks being closed as in Fig. l, the lug a enters the notch provided for it and locks the shaft from turning either accidentally or under the influence of the spring, the spring always pressing on the` shaft to hold it in this locked position. When itis desired that the file be opened, the shaft is pressed longitudinally with the finger until it is carried far enough to release lugafrom its holding` notch. The spring thenautomatically'\ turns the shaft which carries the hooks to l their opened position as in F-ig. 2. To close the file it is only necessary to press the hooks toward the uprights. The lug ct is pressed into its notch by the force of the spring as soon as it arrives at the proper point, and the file is thus automatically and securely locked. In locked ,position it may be handled and moved as may be required without danger of releasing the papers. In unlocked position the hooks are held by the spring so that they IOO cannot accidentally close and interfere with the application or removal of any of the papers. I

The device thus constructed is of few and simple parts, light, durable, and well calculated to answer all the purposes or objects of the invention previously set forth.

Having now fully described our invention, what We claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paper le, the combination with the base, of the shaft carrying the hooks, said shaft being arranged to turn and to slide longitudinally in its bearings and being provided with a lock operating to hold the hooks, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a paper le, the combination with the shaft carrying the hooks and arranged to turn and to slide longitudinally in its bearings, of a spring bearing upon said shaft to turn and moveit lengthwise, substantially as shown and for the purposes set forth.

3. The herein described paper file composed of the base, the uprights, the hooks mounted upon the movable shaft, the locking lug and notch, and the spring applied upon 'the shaft to turn the same and to move it lengthwise, the parts being combined for operation, substantially as explained.

AIn testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. HAWKINS. MATHEW GILMORE. Witnesses:

JOHN BUCKLER, WORTH OsGooD. 

